Circuit controlling apparatus



Patented Aug. 25, 1942 2,293,790 CIRCUIT CON TROLLING APPARATUS Edgar L. Bailey, Birmingham; Mich., assgnor to Chrysler Corporation, H corporation ot Delaware ghland Park, Mich., a.

Application December 28, 1939, Serial Nov 311,255

Claims.

This inVention relates to circuit controlling apparatus for a multiple electr ode welcling machine, having particular regard to spot welding machines designed to weld metal parts together by means of a plurality of spaced electrodes.

'Ihe object of my invention is to provide multiple electrode spot welding apparatus with a control circuit whereby each electrode of the wlding apparatus may be energizecl in sequence in order that the curre'nt supplied to the machine may be kept as low as possible. It is comrnon parctice in the use of welding machines having a plurality of electrodes to avoid supplying the Welding current at a. high enough value co energize all of the electrocles simultaneously. It is expen'sive to supply current al: a very high value, as well as dangerous, and the control of such a high current requires the use of large end extremely expensive circut breakers, switches, and other apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved control system for sequentally supplying welding current to each of a pluralty of elect-rodes individually.

The present apparatus is designed to suppiy alternating current of welding intensity te a plurality of electrocles Which are simultaneously lowered end engaged With the work but Which are sequentially energized so that a plurality of spot Welding perations are performed in sequence.

A further advantage of the present invention is that proper engagement of the electrodes With the work pieces mey be accomplished before a single welcling operation is performed.

The present invention comprises a primary alternating current circuit connected to a plurality of secondary alternating current welding circuits in parallel with each other, each parallel welcling circuit including a reactor having one leg thereof included in a direct current circuit energized sequentially With respect to other direct current circuits in parallel therewith by m ans of a. commutator or other preset circuit controlling device. It is Well known that the reactance of the alternating current windings of a reactor sets up magnetic fielcls Within the iron cores thereoi' so that practically no current flows through the winclings thereof unless the reactance in the winclings is reduced by imposing a satisfying current on the reactor from another source. An object of the present nvention is to take advantage of this phenomenon to control the flow of current to each of a plurality of electrodes of e multiple electrode Welding machine so that the electrodes may be operated in sequence after once being iocated as a group, thus eliminating the necessity for opening Iaxge current carrying capacity. circuits. Expensive and complicated apparatus of several clierent types have been devised for switching secondary welding crcults, and it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the necessity for such apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to prov de in a control system of this knd improved means for individually predetermining the value of current intensity supplied to the respective Welding electrodes of a, plurality of electrodes.

trically The invention should be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of the apparatus is illustrated, the apparatus being set forth schematically With certain parts in perspective.

In such apparatus the primary power circuit comprises alternating current feed. conductors 2 end 3 connected to the prirnary wincings of a transforrner 4. The secondary Windings of the transformer l are so arranged as to reduce the alternating current in the secondary alternating current circuit to a current of welding intensity, and the secondary Windings are connected by conductor 5 to the bed 6 of the welding machine lanci. by conductor Il to a busbar 33 to which a plurality of parallel branches 9 are connected. Each branch conductor 9 is connected to a pair of windings about the outer legs of the ron core il of a reactor l2, the pair of windings ID then being connected to a conductor l5 elecconnected to the Welding electrode 96 which is suitably mountecl in a holcler il! end urged outvvardly by a spring l8 so that diierent heights of work may be engaged when the electrocle platen 59 is lowered toward the bed 6. The electrodes 16 are insulated from each other preferably by making the platen l9 or the holclers Il of dielectric materia Current '00 the primary windings 01 the transformer may be controlled by a solenoid actuated, spring opened switch 20 in the suppiy line 2.

The altemating current circuit so far described is incapable of supplying current to the electrodes IS even though the switch 20 may be closecl since the reactance of the reactors l2 prevents the flow of current through. the conductors 85. In order that the flux of the cores may be created by other means, the intermediate leg of each core is provided With a winding 25 connectec'i te a. conductor 26 and a concluctor 27, the conductor 28 being connected to a brush 28 of a commutator device 29 having a terminal thereof connected to one wire 30 of a direct current supply circuit and the conductor 27 being connected to the other wire 3| of the direct current supply circuit. Direct current at a predetermined amperage when fiowing through the winding 25 satisfies the reactor 12 so that alternating curreni: of welding ntensity may flow through the electrode IB, and the commutating devce 23 assures flow of direct current to only one direct current winding 25 at a time. Each conductor 26 is provided with a rheostat 26' by which is selectvely predetermined the ntensity of the direct current suppled to the coils 25. Ths selective control of the direct current of the cols 25 results in selective control of the welding curreni; of each of the electrodes Iii.

Many forms of commutating devices may be used, a simple form being shown in the drawng comprsing a drum 35 mounted upon a shaft'36 connected to motor 31 by means of which the drum is rotated at a known speed. The shaft 36 engages a brush 38 connected to the wire 30 and is connecized to a plurality of conductors 39 each of which is connected to a contact segment 40 engaged by a brush 4| mounted upon a delectrc member 42, the brush being connected to a conductor 63 which leads to the solenoid 44 of switch 20 and extends therefrom to th direct current supply wire 3|. An adjustable timing switch 45 of any known variety is disposed in the conductor 43 for the purpose of preterminng the length of time thai: switch 20 is closed by the energization of solenoid 44. The drum 35 is also provided with a pluralty of spaced contaci; segments 50 connected by conductors (not shown) to the shaft 36 and each of which is sequentially engaged by one of the brushes 28 which are also mounted upon the delectric member 42.

In the operaton of the commutating device the rotating drum causes one of the contact segments 40 to engage the brush 4| thereby energizng the solenod 44 to close switch 20 which causes alternating current to saturate the core of each reactor l'2. At substantially the same time one of the segments 50 engages one of the brushes.

28 so thai; direct current s imposed upon one of the reactors |2 with the result that welding current flows through the material between the electrode l6 associated with that particular reactor and the bed 6, the other electrodes being inoperative even though alternating current is being suppled to the busbar 8 to which all of the e1ectrodes are connected. The timing switch 45, after a predetermned interval of time, opens the circuii; through the solenod 44 even though brush 4| and segment 40 may yet be in engagement in order thai: the alternating current flow to the electrodemay again be blocked by being forced 130 satisfy' the magnetic flux of the core I I. The timing switch permts acljustment of the machine to various thicknesses of metal sheets so that welding current may be caused to flow through thick sheets long enough to weld them together and so thai; the machine may also be adjusted to operate for shorter periods of time wthout burning through thn sheets.

While I have illustrated and previously described a single form of commutating device, it should be apparnt to those skilled in the art that other forms are sutable for the purpose. I have also described the electrodes l6 and the holder I! 9.s being mounted in a movable platen l9, whereas it should be apparent thai; the bed 6 may be movable toward a fixed electrode holding platen l9. For this purpose the bed 6 is herein shown as being mounted upon telescopio legs 60 having one portion thereof fixed to a fioor plate 6| and the other portion thereof fixed to the bed 6 upon which the work is placed, the tWo portions of the legs being movable axially with respect to each other by any suitable well known means.

In the operation of the present device the pieces ai material to be spot welded at spaced points are placa d upon the bed 5 and adjusted to proper position so that each of the electrodes l6 engages the work ai; the proper point. The electrodes Iii are all simultaneously engaged with the work either by lowering the electrode upon the work or by raising the work to meet the elegtrodes. During this period the commutator drum 35 is stationary, preferably with the brush 4| be tween segments 40 so that current cannoi; be supplied to the solenoid 44, and the dreci; current supp1y line is disconnected from the source of supply so as to prevent accidents. When the electrodes have been properly ngaged with the work the drect current supply is connected and commutating motor 31 started so thai; the drum 35 commences rotation. Simultaneous engagement of brush 4| with segment MI and one of the brushes 28 with one of the segments 50 causes switch 20 to close and simultaneous flow of current through one or the coils 25. The direct curreni; fiowing through 0011 25 satisfies the reactor |2 and Welding current flows between the assocatecl electrode 16 and the bed 6 to produce a spot weld at that pont. The timing switch 45 opens the switch 20 at the proper instant even though brush 4| may remain in engagement with segment ii). Continued rotation of the drum 35 causes subsequent reoperation of another electrode Iii until a complete revolution of the drum 35 has caused energization of each electrode. The commutator motor 31 may be provided with any well known single revolution stop-device so that reactuation of one or more of the electrodes may be rendered impossible, or in the event thai; the drum is large enough and moving slowly enough the operator may manually disconnect the motor 31 after actuation of all of the electrodes. The apparatus thus eliminates the necessty of making and breaking heavy alternating current circuits in the secondary portion of the alternatng curreni; circut, thus protectng the Workmen and also protecting the apparatus from excess1ve arc1ng.

While I have llustrated a single embodment of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the ari; thai: various changes, modifications,

'substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended clams.

1. A current timing circuit for sequentally energizng a plurality of operating devices comprising a, plurality of such operating devices, a plurality of reactors, each one of said'reactors being connected in seres with one of said devices and all of said reactors being connected v in parallel to each other, a transformer having one terminal of its secondary connected to all of sad reactors and the other terminal of ts.

secondary completng a closed circuit ncluding all of said operating devices in parallel branches with said reactors, a source of alternating current including a second circuit connected to the primary of said transformer and a switch to close said second circut, means to close said switch and maintan the same in closed postion ai; spaced intervals whereby a. voltage is imposed upon all of said reactors simultaneously, and means to impose direct current of sufficient intehsity to sai:sfy the reactanbe of one of said reactors upon each of said reactors in sequence during the periods of time that said switch is in closed position whereby alternating current from the secondary of said transformer is transmitted through each of said devices in sequence.

2. A current timng circuit for sequentially energizing a plurality of operating devices comprising a. plurality of such operating devices connected in parallel with a source of alternating current, a. plurality of reactors each having a1- ternating current windings in series with one of said operating devices and with said source of alternating current, direct current windings on each reactor connected to a source of direct; current, a commutating devce having a plurality of brushes ea.ch in series With the direct, current windings of one of said reactors and said source of direct; current, and means to operate said commutating device so as to impose direct curreni: upon each reactor in sequence whereby each of said operating devices is supplied with alternating current in sequence.

3. A current timing circuit for sequentially energizing a. plurality of operating devices comprising a. plurality of such operating devices connected in palrallel with a. source of alternating current, a. plurality of reactors each having alternating current windings in series with one of said operating devices and with said source of alternatirg current, direct current windings on each reactor conlected to a. source of direct current,a commutatng device ha.ving a plurality of brushes each in series with the direct current windings of one 01' said reactors and said source of direct current, means to operate said commutating devce so as to impose direct current upon each reactor in sequence whereby each of said operating devices is supplied with alternating current in sequence, a main switch for controlling the supply of alternating curi ent to all of said reactors, and means to close said main swtch simultaneously with energization of each of said direct, current reactor windings by said.

commutating device.

4. A current timing circuit tor sequentially.

current, a plurality of reactors each having a1- ternating current windi'ngs in series With one of said operating devices and wth said source of alternating current, direct current windngs on each reactor connected to a source of direct current, a. commutating devce having a, plurality of brushes each in series with the direct current windings of one of said reactors and said source of direct current, means to operate said commutating device so as to impose direct current upon ea.ch reactor in sequence whereby each of said operating devices is supplied with alternating current in sequence, a main switch for controlling the suppiy of alternating current to all of said reactors, means to close said main switch simultaneously With energzation of each of said direct current reactor windings by said commutatng device, and a timing swtch in series with said main swit;ch closing means to c0ntrol the length of time of imposition of alternating current on said reactors.

5. A current timing circuit for sequentialiy energizing a, plurality of operating devices comprising a plurality of such operating devices connectecl in parallel With a source of alternating currenjz, a plurality of reactors each ha.ving a1- terna.ting current windings in series With one of said operating devices and With said source of alternating current, direct current windings on each reactor connected to a source of direct current, a. commutating device havng a plurality ci brushes each in series With the direct current windings of one of saic reactors and said source of direct; current, means to operate said commutating device so as to impose direct current upon each reactor in sequence whereby each of said operating devices is supplied. with alternating current in sequence, a main switch for controlling the supply of alternating current to all of said rea.ctors, means to close said main swtch simultaneously With energization of each of said direct current reactor windings by said commutating device, and means to regulate the length of time that the main switch remains closed in order to control the length of time of imposition of alternating current on sad reactors.-

EDGAR L. BAILEY. 

